May 02, 2022

FISHING TRADITIONS  A Centuries-Old Fish Ladder  This story begins with the alewife, an anadromous—or migrating from the sea to rivers to spawn—species of herring slightly larger than a human hand. This salty, bony fish was a dietary staple of the region’s Indigenous Algonquian people, who used nets to catch the alewives during the spring migration. But when sawmills were erected in the area, the fish population plummeted, spurring the creation of a fish ladder to assist the fishes in their journey. That worked for a while… until it didn’t.  READ MORE → UNEARTHING HISTORY Tracking Down Lost Indigenous Gravesites Over four days last May, members of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, a First Nations community in the interior of British Columbia, oversaw a site survey of around two acres of land surrounding the province’s former Kamloops Indian Residential School. Using an electromagnetic technology called ground penetrating radar (GPR), an archaeology professor charted what appeared to be the grave shafts of 215 children lying below the ground. Utility companies and archaeologists have been using GPR for decades, but more recently it has been used to unearth Canada’s bleak history surrounding its residential schools. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA COURSES 17 Courses For May  Our online courses offer deep and dynamic learning in under-explored disciplines—from miniatures and terrariums to mythic games and hidden symbols. Designed and taught by subject-matter experts and experienced educators like chef and artist Jen Monroe and award-winning writer Gina Rae La Cerva, these live, interactive online courses provide opportunities to explore your curiosities while expanding your mind. EXPLORE ALL COURSES → SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA The Mojave Desert Mailbox If you stop to have a picnic around mile marker 74 on the Old Mojave Road, you’ll find one of the least accessible mailboxes in the United States. The thick steel mailbox and its tall American flag were put in place in 1983 by the conservation group Friends of the Mojave Road, and while no one collects mail from the Mojave mailbox, at least anyone intrepid enough to try and strike out across the desert on their own can now be remembered. READ MORE → FAR-FLUNG LIVESTOCK The Pigs Living at the End of the World Centuries ago, these pigs were plopped on Auckland Island and have been there ever since. Scrappy, agile, and good-natured, they’re incredible creatures that were never supposed to exist. But while they’re now considered man-made pests ripe for removal, their unique island evolution has rendered them extremely valuable and priorities for preservation. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA VIDEO The Joy of Eating Insects What’s the best type of ant to add for a citrusy twist to your meal? What does a Japanese wasp taste like? Chef and edible insect ambassador Joseph Yoon is trying to normalize eating edible insects around the world. While most might squirm at the idea, eating edible insects is rooted in environmentalism, and is one tool we can use to make an impact on sustainable food culture. WATCH NOW → A WHEELIE, WHEELIE FUN STORY From Church to Skate Park St. Liborius was established as a German national parish in 1856, and construction of the church was completed in 1889. This large Gothic Revival building, marked by its pointed arches and thin, vein-like pillars, has gone through several transformations over the years. Today, it exists as a shell of a church, and bears a new name: Sk8 Liborius, a privately-owned indoor skate park that members of Sk8 Liborius’ community can access. READ MORE → BUDAPEST, HUNGARY Prince of Buda and Princess of Pest Statue This sculpture is positioned on Gellért Hill, overlooking the city of Budapest below. It tells a beautiful but tragic tale of Prince Buda and Princess Pest, two lovers divided by the Danube, and depicts them reaching out to embrace over the river separating them. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA TRIPS Iceland: Journey Through A Fabled Land Due to overwhelming demand we've added a new departure for this trip! Join us May 23-Jun 1 in Iceland, a land renowned worldwide for its mythical tales, sensational scenery and extraordinary natural wonders! This is a truly unforgettable experience for the intrepid traveler who is looking for a tour that combines ancient history with breathtaking natural beauty. Hurry, space is limited. BOOK TODAY → WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT 8 Lonely Lighthouses Ah, the isolated life of the lighthouse keeper. In the heyday of sailing, long before automated beacons steered ships away from treacherous shores, brave men and women were asked to take up a secluded life devoted to watching the seas from their often remote outposts. Those days are mainly gone, although many of the lighthouses still remain. Here are eight almost forgotten lighthouses, which may now function as lonesome relics. READ MORE → AUSTINVILLE, VIRGINIA Shot Tower Historic State Park The Shot Tower Historical State Park sits on the New River in Austinville, Virginia. It features a 215-year-old tower, which once used to mold “shot” that was sold to settlers as ammunition. It took seven years to complete the 75-foot high tower of limestone, quarried from the Austinville mine about a mile away. Inside the tower is a 75-foot-deep shaft that reaches river level. READ MORE → SPONSORED BY TRAVEL NEVADA Lunar Crater While the reaches of the lonely outer planets might be beyond our grasp for now, your next best bet might be Lunar Crater, located midway between Tonopah and Ely. Lunar Crater is the immense focal point of a volcanic field that extends over 100 square miles through the region, and looking out from the crater’s rim, this pockmarked topography looks like something from outer space. READ MORE →